Clean-out



H. PAXTON Nov. 16, 1937.

CLEAN-OUT Filed May 31, 1935 www @www w wf 4 Nm. E,

` verse brusher.

Patented Nev. 1K6, 1937 CLEAN-OUT @tentation May 31, 1935, serial No. 24,186

3 Claims.

My invention relates to machines for use in preparing agricultural produce for market and has particular reference to a novel clean out mechanism for use Vin machines for washing or otherwise treating citrus fruits and the like.A

In the citrus industry it is necessary to thoroughly wash the fruit to remove the dirt, scale and othersurface inpuritiestherefrom. This is usually done by first soaking the fruit and then passing the fruit through a brushing machine. The fruit brusher most commonly used in the citrus packing houses consists of a frame in which a plurality of transverse, rotary brushes are juxtaposed, this machine being known as the trans- The fruit is fed onto the upper surfaces and subjected to the scrubbing action of the rapidly rotating brushes. The fruit tends to remain in the valleys between the brushes until being crowded into the next adjacentrvalley by oncoming fruit. After a given lot of fruit is brushed, aV certain amount of residual fruit remains in the brusher in the valleys between the brushes, it being necessary to remove or clean out this vresidual fruit before washing another lot, in order to keep the different lots of fruit separated. Y Y l It is verynecessary that fruits being prepared for shipment be handled carefully as any injury thereto causes the fruit to spoil within a short time. Therefore, any mechanism employed in a fruit brusher for cleaning out residual fruit must handle the fruit very'gently and yet effectively enough to accomplish the cleaning out peration.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide an efficient clean out for a fruit brusher that is extremely gentle in operation. v

Another object of my invention is the provision of a clean out that will permit fruit to travel through the brusher at a speed in excess of that at which the clean out travels in case the rate at which fruity is fed to the machine increases to the point where this is necessary. v

A further object of my invention is to provide such a clean out mechanism in which `the fruit impelling means thereof is readily removable or replaceable Other objects and advantages will be made manifest in the `following description taken in view of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view of a preferred embodiment'of my invention.

Fig. 2 is ra Vertical sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

(Cl. 14S-202) Fig. `3 is a fragmentary, detailed, perspective View of a portion ofthe clean out mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring specifically to the drawing, a fruit brusher i5, comprising a preferred embodiment of my Vinvention is shown in Fig. 1, this brusher including a frame 'I I, a brushing unit I2 and a clean out mechanism i3. Y

The frame i I includes side plates` I5 and I5, these vbeing spaced by tie bars I"I and supported from the floor by suitable legs I8. Provided at the inlet and outlet ends'of the brusher I0y are drop boards I5 and 25 respectively.

The `brushing unitI2 includes a plurality of transverse, rotary brushes having trunnions 2,6 1

and 21 on opposite ends thereof. The trunnions 25 are rotatably received Vby a housing'z on the plate I5, the trunnions 2'! beingy journalled in bearings fixed on the plate I6. Extending through the housing 28 is a shaft 32 driven from any suitable source of power. The brushes 25" are driven from the shaft 32 by means of suitable spiral gears 33and 34 on the shaft 32 and trunnions 2B respectively. Y

The clean out mechanism I3 includes a pair of shafts di! and 4I, rotatably mounted in suitable bearings on the plates I5 and I6. Fixed on theV shaft M adjacent the plates I 5 and I6 are sprockets 43, as shown in Fig. 2a drive sprocket 45 being fixed on one end of theshaft A I. Mounted on the shaft 45 in alignment with the sprockets 43 are similar sprockets M. Trained aboutthe sprockets 43 and 44 are endless chains 41. The upper flights of the chains 4l ride on angle iron bars 59 provided on the plates I5 and IB, similar bars 5I being provided for supporting the lower iiights of the chains M. Fixed at their ends to links 53 ofthe chains i1 are transverse bars 55, each of the latter having studs 56 xed thereto as seen in Fig. 3.y Forced onto the studs 56 are downward extending, yieldable ngers 51 having upturned ends 58 as shown.

Operation While the brusher IG is adapted for a variety of uses, its operation will now be described when used as a fresh fruit washer.

Fruit F, which was previously soaked in a suitable tank (not shown), is fed onto the drop board I9 `of the brusher Ii) as shown in Fig. 1. The fruit tends to remain in the valleys between the brushes 25 until being crowded into the next ad- While the brushes 25 are being driven in the jacent valley by incoming fruit. v

direction indicated by the arrows of Fig. 1, the shaft 4I of the clean out mechanism I3 is driven by any suitable power means connected to the sprocket 45. Rotation Vof the shaft 4| causes the chains 41 to be driven in the direction indicated by the arrows of Fig. l.. The chains 41 carry the fingers 51 over the brushing unit I2, the lower ends 58 ofthe fingers 51 contactingthe pieces of fruit F and urging the latter through the brusher Ill. Y

If the fruit F should tend to crowd through the brusher lll at a rate of speed greater than the rate of travel of the fingers 51, the fruit forces the fingers upward and passes thereunder as shown in Fig. l. This is possible due to the rotation of the fruit in a counterclockwise direction by the brushes 25. Y

After a given lot of fruit is washed, the residual fruit is promptly cleaned out of the brusher l by the fingers 51.

In the event that anyV of the fingers 51 becomes worn or deformed, it can be easily and quickly removed from its stud 56 and a new finger 51 forced thereon, this operation being performed while the fingers 51 are disposed above the upper nights of the chains 41.

Although I have shown but one preferred form of my invention, it is understood that various modifications and changes might be made therein without departing from. the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fruit'brushing machine, the combination of: a frame; a plurality of juxtaposed, cy-

lindrical brushes journalled transversely on said frame, the uppermost sides of said brushes forming a fruit brushing surface, Vsaid surface being characterized by fruit receiving valleys, one of which is disposed between each adjacent pair of said brushes; means for rotating saidbrushes in a common direction; overhead travelling clean out carrier means; a clean out carried by said carrier means over said fruit brushing surface, said clean out including a plurality of relatively long resilient fingers extending downwardly and rearwardly at a substantial angle with the horizontal to a point close above said brushing surface, the

lower ends of said fingers being formed of Vsoft material and being turned upwardly so that ,when said finger ends are engaged by fruit traveling over said brushing surface at a rate in excess of Y tion of: a frame; a plurality of juxtaposed, cy-

lindrical brushes journalled transversely on said frame, the uppermost sides of said brushes form- VVing a` fruit brushing surface, saidY surfacebeing characterized by Vvfruit receiving valleys, one of which is disposed between Veach adjacent pair of said brushes; means for rotating said brushes in a common direction; overhead travelling cleanY out carrier means; a clean out carried by said carrier means over said fruit brushing surface, said clean out including a plurality of relatively Y long resilient fingers extending downwardly and rearwardly at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees with the horizontal toa point'close above said brushing surface, the lower ends of said fingers being turned upwardly so that when said finger ends are engaged by 'fruit traveling over said Vbrushing surface at a rate in excess of the speed of saidV carrier means a rolling contactis established between said fruit'and said finger ends' which lifts saidiinger ends upwardly and rearwardly and permits said fruit to rotate forwardly between said brushing surface and said fingers.

3. In combination with a fruit treating machine of the type employing a series of treating rolls arranged transversely to the iiowof fruit thereover and rotated rapidly upon fixed axes in adjacent-parallel relation to form fruit'supporting valleys therebetween: a clean out mechfruit impeller depending therefrom to engage with -and advance fruit from valley to valley across therolls in the direction travelled by upper portions of said rolls, said impeller being inclined rearwardly downward with respect to its direction. of travel, being yieldable to permit its lower portion to move upwardly and rearwardlyvand having its lower end curved rearwardly upward forY engagement by fruit advancing over the rolls atV afaster rate than the impeller to enable said fruit to lift said impeller upwardly and rearwardlyrand pass thereunder. Y

HALE PAXTON. 

